How a Broken Heart Can Affect Your Health

After a bad breakup or the death of a loved one, perhaps you've wondered whether you can die of a broken heart. Well, according to science, your heartbreak can have a noticeable impact on your well-being, and, in some cases, might very well kill you. Watch the video below to see the effect of a broken heart on your health.

The Japanese have a word for it — takotsubo cardiomyopathy — or "broken heart syndrome" as it's popularly known. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart's left ventricle, and it's usually caused by "severe emotional or physical stress, such as a sudden illness, the loss of a loved one, a serious accident, or a natural disaster," according to Harvard Health Publications. Symptoms of takotsubo cardiomyopathy include chest pain and shortness of breath.

If your broken heart doesn't kill you, it can leave you vulnerable to all sorts of other issues. Heartbreak takes a toll on your mental health and can lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, and betrayal, according to Maria Scoda, a clinical psychologist in Australia. It can also spur your weight gain or loss as a result of an increased or decreased appetite respectively.

But it is possible to get over a broken heart; it just takes a little bit of time. Surround yourself with loving, supportive people and let yourself mourn. Peace will come but you must accept the pain first. In the words of that old adage, time heals all wounds.